Murray Tinkelman 1933-2016

-By Arnie Fenner

“I first met Murray when he came to my school in Great Neck, Long Island. His slide presentation opened up the whole world of illustration. He was so passionate that his enthusiasm gave me the alibi I needed to pursue a career in the field. Murray was the fiercest proponent of illustration I’ve ever met. He made it clear to me that I was in a noble profession.”

- Peter de Sève.

Murray Tinkleman, a legend of the illustration field and an influential educator, died January 30, just several weeks after the passing of his wife and studio partner, Carol. Inquisitive, kind, and giving, Murray was a mentor to many and an advocate for artists everywhere. He was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 2013 and the video I've attached at the end of this post marked the occasion.

Vincent Di Fate's celebration of his friend's multi-faceted career is far more knowledgeable and eloquent than anything I might say, so after you read it, you can enjoy some of Murray's art below. It's a good way to remember one of the greats.